World in Focus

February 15, 2013 9:37 PM

Photo: Yekaterina Pustynnikova/Associated Press

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Hindu devotees take ritual dips at 'Sangam', confluence of Hindu holy rivers of Ganges, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati, on the third and last royal bath of the Maha Kumbh festival on occasion of 'Basant Panchami' in Allahabad, India, Friday, Feb. 15, 2013. Millions of Hindu pilgrims are attending the Maha Kumbh festival, which is one of the world's largest religious gatherings that lasts 55 days and falls every 12 years. During the festival pilgrims bathe in the holy Ganges River in a ritual they believe can wash away their sins. less

Hindu devotees take ritual dips at 'Sangam', confluence of Hindu holy rivers of Ganges, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati, on the third and last royal bath of the Maha Kumbh festival on occasion of 'Basant ... more

Syrian rebels fire a mortar towards regime forces stationed at Kwiriss airport in Al-Bab, 30 kilometres from the northeastern Syrian city of Aleppo, on February 14, 2013. Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem and opposition National Coalition chief Ahmed Moaz al-Khatib will make separate visits to Moscow for talks in the coming weeks, a top Russian diplomat said. less

Syrian rebels fire a mortar towards regime forces stationed at Kwiriss airport in Al-Bab, 30 kilometres from the northeastern Syrian city of Aleppo, on February 14, 2013. Syrian Foreign Minister Walid ... more

A Palestinian wears a mask during clashes with the Israeli army north of the West Bank city of Jenin in support to the Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike in Israeli jails and against the administrative detention, Friday, Feb. 15, 2013. less

A Palestinian wears a mask during clashes with the Israeli army north of the West Bank city of Jenin in support to the Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike in Israeli jails and against the administrative ... more

Photo: Mohammed Ballas, Associated Press

A Palestinian wears a mask during clashes with the Israeli army... Photo-4201725.56931 - SFGate

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Late polar bear Knut is on display at the Natural History Museum in Berlin, Friday, Feb. 15, 2013. Adorable in life, still attracting admirers in death: Knut the polar bear's hide has been mounted on a polyurethane body and is going on display in a Berlin museum. The Natural History Museum on Friday unveiled the statue prepared by taxidermists featuring the famous Berlin Zoo bear's fur and claws, with the synthetic body and glass eyes. Knut was hand-raised after his mother rejected him. He rose to stardom in 2007 as a cuddly cub, appearing on magazine covers, in a film and on mountains of merchandise. He died in 2011 after suffering from encephalitis. less

Late polar bear Knut is on display at the Natural History Museum in Berlin, Friday, Feb. 15, 2013. Adorable in life, still attracting admirers in death: Knut the polar bear's hide has been mounted on a ... more

Photo: Markus Schreiber, Associated Press

Late polar bear Knut is on display at the Natural History Museum... Photo-4204866.56931 - SFGate

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Palestinians are covered with tear gas smoke during clashes with Israeli troops, outside Ofer, an Israeli military prison near the West Bank city of Ramallah, Friday, Feb. 15, 2013. Palestinian demonstrators clashed with Israeli soldiers on Friday at a rally held in support of a prisoner observing an intermittent hunger strike to protest his incarceration. The Israeli military said about 200 Palestinians threw rocks at soldiers who responded with tear gas during the rally outside Ofer prison in the West Bank. The protesters called for the release of Samer Issawi, who has been on an on-again, off-again hunger strike for several months as he serves time for alleged terror activity. less

Palestinians are covered with tear gas smoke during clashes with Israeli troops, outside Ofer, an Israeli military prison near the West Bank city of Ramallah, Friday, Feb. 15, 2013. Palestinian demonstrators ... more

In this photo provided by Chelyabinsk.ru a meteorite contrail is seen over Chelyabinsk on Friday, Feb. 15, 2013. A meteor streaked across the sky of Russia's Ural Mountains on Friday morning, causing sharp explosions and reportedly injuring around 100 people, including many hurt by broken glass. less

In this photo provided by Chelyabinsk.ru a meteorite contrail is seen over Chelyabinsk on Friday, Feb. 15, 2013. A meteor streaked across the sky of Russia's Ural Mountains on Friday morning, causing sharp ... more

Photo: Yekaterina Pustynnikova, Associated Press

In this photo provided by Chelyabinsk.ru a meteorite contrail is... Photo-4204862.56931 - SFGate

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Indian Sikh school students participate in a protest against the ban on wearing turban in public schools in France, in New Delhi, India, Friday, Feb. 15, 2013 on the occasion of a two-day visit of French President Francois Hollande in India. less

Indian Sikh school students participate in a protest against the ban on wearing turban in public schools in France, in New Delhi, India, Friday, Feb. 15, 2013 on the occasion of a two-day visit of French ... more

Photo: Tsering Topgyal, Associated Press

Indian Sikh school students participate in a protest against the... Photo-4204867.56931 - SFGate

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Ted Ligety of the United States of America skis in the Men's Giant Slalom during the Alpine FIS Ski World Championships on February 15, 2013 in Schladming, Austria.

Ted Ligety of the United States of America skis in the Men's Giant Slalom during the Alpine FIS Ski World Championships on February 15, 2013 in Schladming, Austria.

Photo: Alexander Hassenstein, Getty Images

Ted Ligety of the United States of America skis in the Men's... Photo-4204891.56931 - SFGate

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Onlookers watch as workers from the Telefonica phone company take part in a demonstration to protest against what they claim are unjustified dismissals from the company in Barcelona, Spain, Friday, Feb. 15, 2013. Spain is under immense European Union pressure to reduce a swollen deficit as it struggles to emerge from a second recession in three years. It has 26 percent unemployment. less

Onlookers watch as workers from the Telefonica phone company take part in a demonstration to protest against what they claim are unjustified dismissals from the company in Barcelona, Spain, Friday, Feb. 15, ... more

Photo: Emilio Morenatti, Associated Press

Onlookers watch as workers from the Telefonica phone company take... Photo-4204870.56931 - SFGate

Kashmiri students shout freedom slogans during a protest against the execution of a Kashmiri Mohammed Afzal Guru and continuous curfew in the Kashmir valley, in New Delhi, India, Friday, Feb. 15, 2013. Authorities re-introduced a strict curfew across most of Indian-controlled Kashmir ahead of Friday prayers, as residents simmered with anger over the secret execution of Guru in the Indian capital. Guru had been convicted of involvement in a 2001 attack on India's Parliament that killed 14 including five gunmen. less

Kashmiri students shout freedom slogans during a protest against the execution of a Kashmiri Mohammed Afzal Guru and continuous curfew in the Kashmir valley, in New Delhi, India, Friday, Feb. 15, 2013. ... more

Jockeys compete in a traditional camel race during the Sheikh Sultan Bin Zayed al-Nahyan Camel Festival, held at the Shweihan racecourse, in the outskirts of Abu Dhabi on February 15, 2013.

Jockeys compete in a traditional camel race during the Sheikh Sultan Bin Zayed al-Nahyan Camel Festival, held at the Shweihan racecourse, in the outskirts of Abu Dhabi on February 15, 2013.

Photo: Karim Sahib, AFP/Getty Images

Jockeys compete in a traditional camel race during the Sheikh... Photo-4204918.56931 - SFGate

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Children play beside the tomb of the Askia on February 15, 2013 in Gao, northern Mali. The European Union on Friday announced fresh aid worth 20 million euros to help restore law and order in Mali as well as the return of basic state services such as education after months of trouble. less

Children play beside the tomb of the Askia on February 15, 2013 in Gao, northern Mali. The European Union on Friday announced fresh aid worth 20 million euros to help restore law and order in Mali as well as ... more

Photo: Pascal Guyot, AFP/Getty Images

Children play beside the tomb of the Askia on February 15, 2013 in... Photo-4204865.56931 - SFGate

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South Korean Army 155mm Howitzers fire live rounds during a live fire drill in Cheorwon, 70 km northeast of Seoul on February 15, 2013. North Korea can never be made to abandon its nuclear weapons programme, South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak said on February 15, arguing that only regime collapse could remove the threat from Pyongyang. less

South Korean Army 155mm Howitzers fire live rounds during a live fire drill in Cheorwon, 70 km northeast of Seoul on February 15, 2013. North Korea can never be made to abandon its nuclear weapons programme, ... more

Photo: Yonhap, AFP/Getty Images

South Korean Army 155mm Howitzers fire live rounds during a live... Photo-4204917.56931 - SFGate